System of control



R. E. HELLMUND.

SYSTEM OF CONTROL.[ APPLICATION man Arm-4; 191s.

1,343,21 0. Patented June 15, 1920.

Trolley WITNESSES:

INVENTOR 1 UNITED ST T S rarest .orrios.

RUDOLF n. HELLMU F SWISS-VALE), PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNon; VTOIWESTI-NGI HOUSE ELEC'IRIG'AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A oonrormrroN or PENN- SYLVANIAa I SYSTEM OF CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent. t t Ju 5 2 Original application filed. September 1t), 1914, Serial No 860,994. Patent No. 1,264,299, dated April 30, i 19 18 Divided and this application filedApril 4, 1918, Serial No. 226,623.

To all whom it mag] concern: g

Be it known that I, RUDOLF E. HnLLMUNo, a 'citizen'of the German Empire, and a T681- dent of Swissvale, in. thecounty of Alle-' gheny and State of Pennsylvanimhave invented a new and useful Improvement in Systems of Control, of which the fOllOW1I1g is a specification, this application being a division of applicationSerialNo. 860,99a, filed September 10, 1914:, patented Apr. 30, 1918, No. 1,264,299.

lMy invention relates to systems of con-- trol and particularly to systems of control for" governing the operation of railway vehicles. I

One object of my invention is to provide a control system of the above-indicated character that shall automatically effect braking of an electric vehicle under certain emergency' conditions, such as the failure of'the supply circuit voltage. v f

According-to my invention, I provide a dynamo-electric machine having an armature and a field-magnet winding, an aux iliary source of ener gy, a fluid-brak ng system and means, in the form of a suitable switch, for automaticallyenergizing the field winding from the source of energy upon the failure or interruption of 'supply-circult voltage and having an actuating coilcon nected across the armature for electromagneticallyeffecting the operationof the vehicl'e fiuidbrakesupon the attainment of pre determined speed and voltage of the momentum-driven armature.

The single figure Qf'theaccompanying drawing is a diagrammaticjview of a systern of control embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the system here shown comprises a suitable supply clrcuit includin conductors respectively marked Trolley and Ground; a dynamo-electric inaohineyhaving an armature A and series fieldrmagnet winding F ;*an auxiliary source of energy, suchas a storage battery 13'; a fluid brakingfsystem 50; a control switch C that is adapted to"oc"cu py an oif and a plurality of operative positions; and

a relayswitch' S.

The 'relaysvvitch'Scoinprises a suitable core memben-l-that is adapted to be actuated upwardly by means of a coil Q'Which' is connected across 'the'supply circuit through cooperating stationary and movable contact A, under predetermined" voltage conditions thereof; a suitable spring member t for biasing the relay switch S to' the intermediate position shown inthe drawing; a movable contact member 5 which is adapted to engage a pair of stationary contact members (3 when the switch occupies its upper position and to vengage a pair of stationary contact members 7 in its lower position, a second movable contact member 8 which is adaptedto slide over a pair of stationary contact members 9 during the time that the switch occupies either its intermediate position shown in the drawing or its lower position; and a third movable contact member 10 which is adapted 'to'slide over a pair of stationary contact members 11 under similar conditions. v I

The relative operation of the actuating coil 2, the coil 3 and the spring member 4 may be brieflyset forth as follows: When the motor is not operating, the spring 4 biases the relay SWitCli'StO the intermediate position illustrated; upon energization of the motor circuit and of the actuating coil 2 by movement of the-control switch C to any operative position, the relay switch S is moved ,to its upperposition; and, upon failure of supply-circuit voltage, provided the electromotive force generated by the 1110-" mentum-driven armature attains a predetermined value, the actuating coil'3 moves the switch, in opposition to the spring a, to its lower position. I r

Assuming the parts to occup" 'tl1e positions shown, the operation of my system may bedescribed as follows: Upon actuation of the control switch C to "any of its operative positions, therelayswit'eh S is moved to its upper position,fas hereinbefore described, whereupon a circuitis estabcontact members 5 and 6 ofthe-r'elay switch,

' conductor 12 and the armature and field winding of the propelling m'otorto ground, thereby connecting the 7 motor to the supply circuit for normal operation, as hereinafter 105 pointed out. v

' Assuming the supply-circuit energy to suddenly fail, for any reason, the relay switch S immediately assumes the position .lay switch S, conductor 14, coeperating contact members 8 and 9 of the switch S, and

conductors and 16 to a point'intermediate the armature A and field winding F.

. The coil 3 is thus connected directly across the armature A. Another circuit is simultaneously established from one side of the field F, through conductors 16 and 17, to operating contact members 10 and 11 of the relay switch, conductor 18, control fingers 19 and 20which are bridged by a contact member-'21 of the control switch Cconductor 22, a predetermined portion of the battery B, a manually operated switch 23, and conductor 24'to the opposite side of the field F, to energize it in the opposite direction to that which the current took during acceleration, for a purpose which will be well understood. The battery B is thus connected to energize the field winding F, provided the control switch U occupies any operative position, to effect a building up of the generated voltage .ofthe momentum-driven armature A. In case'the armature speed and,

therefore, the voltage, attains a predetermined value, the'force exerted by the actuatingccoil 3 of the switch S becomes sufficient to overcome the action of the spring membert, and the'relay switch S is moved to its lower position, in which, in addition to the connections already established, anew circuit is'completed for operating the vehicle brakes, as hereinafter set forth.

A fluid-braking system, such as an air- 7 braking system of a familiar form, is adapted to effect braking of the vehicle under emergency conditions. The apparatus illustratedcomprises the conductors 25 and 26,

which are connected to the respective ends ofan actuating coil 28 of a normally closed magnet valve 29; an air cylinder 30, an operating piston 31 therefor, and a helical spring 32 that is disposed within the cylinder 30 to bias the piston 31 to an extreme and inoperative position; a brake shoe 33 that is suitably mechanically associated with the piston rod 34 for engaging a vehicle Wheel W; and an air, tank or reservoir 35 for admitting air through the valve 29 to the cylinder 31 when the valve is actuated.

Assuming that the armature speed and the voltage attain the predetermined values above referredto, the operation of the apparatus may be described as-follows: When the actuating coil 28 of the valve 29 is sufficiently energized from the armature Av to effect the opening of the valve, fluid-pressure is admitted to the cylinder 30 to actuate the piston 31 in opposition to the action of the spring 32, thereby causing the brake shoe 33 to engage the wheel W and brake the vehicle.

Inasmuch V as the particular system employed for accelerating themotor is not relevant to my present invention, I. have not deemed it necessary to describe any particular system, and it will be understood that any suitable means for accelerating the ve hicle-propelling motor may be employed. 7

Since'the actuating coil 2 of "the relay switch S and the circuit of the battery B are connected through the control switch C in any of its operative positions, it willbe observed that, when it is'desired to voluntarily discontinue the operation of the motor, and the control switch is returned to its off position, the relay switch S is allowed to assume its intermediate position shown on the drawing and the battery Bisrnot connected across the field winding F. The system described, therefore, operatesv automatically only'under gency conditions.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific circuit connections and arrangement of parts herein set forth, but desire that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: v 1. In a control system, the combination predetermined emer witha supply circuit, and a dynamo-electric machine adapted to be operated therefrom, of a fluid-pressure braking system, and.

means, dependent upon a predetermined variation 'ofsupply-circuit and of machinecircuit voltage, for automatically effecting the operation of said braking system. '2. In a control system, the combination with a supply circuit, and a dynamo-electric "machine adapted to be operated therefrom and having an armature and a field magnet winding, of a fluid-pressure braking system, and means, dependent upon a failure of supply-circuit energy and upon subsequent voltage conditions of the momentum-driven armatures, for effecting the operation of said braking system.

In a control system, the combination with a supply circuit, and a dynamo-electric,

machine adapted to beoperatedtherefrom and having an armature and a. field magnet winding, of an auxiliary source of energy,

a fluid-pressure braking system, and means, dependent upon a failureof supply-circuit energy and upona predetermined machine speed, for energizing said field winding from said source of energy and for concurrently electromagnetically effecting'the op- 1 eration of said braking system.

4. Ina system of control, the combination wlth a supply circuit,-and' a dynamo-electric machine adapted to be operatedftherefrom.

and having an armature'anda field-magnet winding, of an auxiliary source of energy,

a fluid-pressure braking system, a magnet valve for controlling the braking system, a relay switch having an actuating coil adapted for connection across said armature, means, associated with said switch, for connecting said auxiliary source of energy in circuit with said field winding upon a failure of supply-circuit energy, and other means, associated with said switch, for subsequently effecting the actuation of said magnet valve to effect braking of the machine upon the attainment of a predetermined speed and voltage of the machine armature.

5. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, and a dynamo-electric machine adapted to be operated therefrom and having an armature and a field-magnet winding, of v a fluid-braking system and means active only upon a predetermined variation of supply-circuit voltage and upon a predetermined machine speed for efiecting the operation of said braking system.

' 6. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, and a dynamoelectric machine adapted to be operated therefrom and having an armature and a field-magnet winding, of a fluid-braking system, an auxiliary source of energy, and means dependent upon a failure of supplycircuit energy and upon subsequent voltage conditions of the momentum-driven arma ture for energizing said field winding from said auxiliary source and for efiecting the operation of said braking system.

'7. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, and a dynamoelectric machine adapted to be operated therefrom and having an armature and a field-magnet winding, of an auxiliary source of energy, a fluid-braking system, a relay switch having an actuating coil adapted for connection across said armature, means associated with said switch for connecting said auxiliary source of energy 111 circuit with said field winding upon apredetermined variat1on of supply-circuit energy, and other means associated with the switch for subsequently effecting operation of the braking system. Y

8. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, and a dynamoelectric machine adapted to be operated therefrom and having an armature and a field-magnet winding, of an auxiliary source of energy, a fluid-braking system, a relay switch having an actuating coil adapted for connection across said armature, means associated with said switch for connecting said auxiliary source of energy in circuit with said field winding upon a failure of supply-circuit energy, and other means associated with the switch for subsequently effecting operation of the braking system upon the attainment of a predetermined speed and voltage of the machine armature.

9. In a control system, the combination with a supply-circuit, and a dynamo-electric machine adapted to be operated therefrom, of a fluid-pressure braking system, and means dependent upon a predetermined speed of the dynamo-electric-machine for effecting the operation of said braking system.

10. In a control system, the combination with a' supply circuit, and a dynamo-electric machine adapted to be operated therefrom, of a fluid-pressure braking system, and means dependent upon predetermined voltage conditions of the dynamo-electricmachine for effecting the operation of said braking system.

11. In a control system, the combination with a supply circuit, and a dynamo-electric machine adapted to be operated therefrom and having an armature and a field magnet winding, of a fluid-pressure braking system, and means dependent upon an interruption of supply-circuit energy and upon subsequent voltage conditions of the momentumdriven armatures for effecting the operation of said braking system.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of March, 1918.

RUDOLF E. HELLMUND. 

